Posted: Monday 25 April, 2011
I got the new rope reins and traces last weekend, so I've had Smokey out today in his broller. With 22ft reins, you feel a long way away from your horse but thye need to be long enough to let me get behind the harrow, since changing sides would be dangerous if I had to step over the traces or the harrow itself. I feel a bit like a fish on a bicycle with these long, long reins, but I'll just have to work away until I get used to them.
One of the good things about the rope reins is the weight - if I ask him to move off and he doesn't (which is unusual, to be fair), a flick along the length of the rope makes him pay attention.
We've also been practising turning without bending his body - basically a pivot on his hindquarters. He's getting the hang of it but his first reaction is to back up, so we have to go back to "stand" then to "over". But he does try for me, which is great.
Hopefully, we'll get out again tomorrow - if we do, I'll try and get some video.
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